Finally shaking myself out of a thick fog of elation and unbelievability, I ventured out to my local 7-Eleven, hoping that I could snag a copy of today's editions of the Washington Post, Washington Times, and USA Today. Granted it was 3:00PM when I decided to make this trip, I was hoping that I would be able to grab maybe even torn copies of these publications.
Upon reaching the store, there were no papers. As I had expected. This wasn't exactly a surprise considering how late I left in my attempt to collect a piece of history. Or maybe that didn't really matter since the first print sold out within hours.
"You can't put a computer screen into a scrapbook," said Joyce Mutcherson-Ridley, 56, a Washington D.C. office manager who came to the Washington Post's 15th Street headquarters just in time to learn the first printing had sold out by 11 a.m.
The Washington Post printed 30 percent more copies for single sales, but sold out within hours.
As I approached my car, two elder African-American men asked if I was looking for today's paper. I answered in the affirmative and they then pointed towards the group of others who seemed to be idling standing around as they chatted.
"We've been waiting out here for the truck to arrive," one gentleman informed me. "They said they were going to offload hundreds of copies throughout the region."
I looked over at the group of men and then back at the two in front of me. They had been out there for about an hour, waiting for their opportunity to hold on to a piece of history. I was informed that the Post said that the special edition would cost $1.50 instead of the usual $0.50, and the two men didn't really seem all that concerned with the Sunday paper pricing. They just wanted to get their hands on a copy of the Special Edition.
Amazed by what I was seeing, I told them that I would try the local Shoppers Food Warehouse.
"Good luck," the second man said. "I heard they've got a line stretching from the customer service counter to the back of one of their aisles." I figured I would drive the short distance and try anyway. The delivery may have hit the grocer before it made it to the convenience store.
I shouldn't have bothered. The line there looked like the lines we've seen during the early hours of voting yesterday. I merely laughed at the beautiful sight and headed back home. I'll depart again in about an hour to see if the paper has finally arrived so I can snag at least ONE.
Apparently, this isn't happening just in the Washington Metro area or even only to the Washington Post.
Hundreds of people lined up at newspaper offices across the country to get extra copies announcing Barack Obama's decisive win. Newspapers scrambled to print special editions while customers continued to gather at their front steps, clamoring for extra copies.
...
At The Post's headquarters, people were disappointed when circulation officials closed the office doors and posted a sign saying "SOLD OUT".
"I wanted a copy for my kids. I have a newborn son who won't remember this, but I want him to know about the history that was made here, how important this is for us as African-Americans," said Samantha Crawford, 35. "I want him to hold the paper in his hand and read about it someday."
Lines snaked down blocks and around corners at newspaper offices across the nation.
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The Los Angeles Times ran 40,000 extra copies last night, but had sold out before 10 a.m., said Nancy Sullivan, executive director of communications for the California paper.
Has anyone seen anything like this happening in your area?
And I have a special request for a copy of both today's Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune. Can anyone help me with a copy?